The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1887-06-03

THE MASONIC BANQUET.
The Grand Master of Cali
fornia Feasted By
Friends.
The visiting MasOIas Meet His Maj
esfy at the Festive ROard-FuiI
Report of the Speeches
and TOasts.

kinson and the visiting Masons were en-
tertained at banquet at the Royal Ha-
waiian Hotel by Hawaiian Lodge No.
q, F. and A NJ, and Lodge lie Pro-
gres de POceanie. At o'clock the
Grand Master held a reception in the
parIers. His Majesty the King, attended
by His Excellency Antoine Rosa, Vice
Chamberlain, arrived at the Hotel
about nine O'Clock. and a few min
utes later the company marched
into the dining hall Covers had been
laid for one hundred and fifty. At the
upper end Of the hall was device, bear
ing the words, "Welcome, Grand
Master" and one at the lower end
which read, Welcome, Visiting
Brethren" The letters were made of
evergreens on white ground. The
menu was an excellent one, and re-
fected great credit on the Hotel man
ager, Mr. w. S. Bartlett The tables
were covered with fragrant flowers. On
the table in front of the chair
man was block of lava, the
top of which was covered with roses.
The ROYAL Hawaiian Band was sta
toned in the pavilion and discoursed an
excellent programme of music during
the evening. Bro. j. NJ Monsarrat, W.
NJ, presided, on his right sat Hi,
Majesty the King, and on the left,
Grand Master Atkinson. Besides the
visiting brethren there was also present
a full representation of Masons from
Hawaiian Lodge and Lodge lie Progress.
So pleasantly had the evening been
whiled away that the lapse of time up to
10 o'clock seemed far shorter than it
really was. At that hour, full justice
having been done to the liberal board,
there was sudden lull in the converse.
on when w. M Bro. Monsarrat, rising,
id:
Your Majesty and Brethren We have
come here this evening to do honor to a
most distinguished guest, the Most Wor-
shipful Edmund C. Atkinson, Grand Mas
ter of the Masons of California, and also
to do honor 20 the visiting breth-
rem of the Masonic excursion
of Lodge lie Progress and the Hawaiian
Lodge unite with me in extending to YOU
a fraternal greeting. Although Masonry
has fourished in this Kingdom during the
last thrty-seyen years or Whereabouts, this
is the first occasion in our history upon
which the craft have had the honor of re-
ceiving visit from Grand Master. We
deeply appreciate that honor, and [ am
sure that the members of Hawaiian Lodge
and Lodge lie Progress and the other
Masons present here this evening will
unite with me in extending to you
cordial welcome. We are proud to be able
to entertain you. Your Majesty ana
brethren, 1 give you the health of the
Most WorShipful Grand Master, and will
call upon him to respond to the sentiment
"Freemasonry and the Grand Lodge of
California
Amid loud applause, the brethren
sprang to their feet and honored the
toast with the utmost enthusiasm.
w. G. NJ, E. C. Atkinson, in responding,
remarked that twas said there was a time
in the life of every, man when his heart
swells with emotion which the tongue can
not express. Full well did he know the
depth of that saying, for he recognized that
that time with him was the present. When
he took into consideration all the circum-
stances attending the visit to these Islands.
when he recalled the efforts of the officers
of the good ship Australia to minister to
the comfort of the party, when he remem-
bered the magnificent reception accorded
l., IL. IL.
whom he was accompanied, when he sur
veyed the magnifcence of the scene
before him. in the poverty of his
language he must fail to express
the sentiments be felt. But he
thought they could well understand the
feelings of a grateful heart. Great was the /
pleasure which he, and doubtless all, felt
at their meeting together as brethren of the |
mystic tie, and as members of that ancient !
an honorable Order which had existed
from time acknowledgements as tend |
ing to make all men who strictly adhered |
to its principles the better for the union |
Away back at the dawn of history there was
a brotherhood of builders, both operative |
and speculative masons. That brother
hood, in the course of ages, had gradually /
extended its benign influence. The great
military road from Rome to Capua and |
Tarpeian Way were among their physical
achievements. In the excavations which |
had revealed to modern eyes the struc-
lures of early Rome the symbols
of Masonry were found. Traces were
found alike upon the sunny slopes
of France and Italy and the snowy step
pes of Russia. Still others there were
upon the banks of the Rhine, the Seine
and the Thames. It's principles received
recognition at the coronation of English
Kings in every century. That stupendous
edifice, the cathedral at Strasburg, was
a monument of Masonry. But however
great and however imposing were the
monuments raised under its auspices they,
like their builders, must eventually be
brought down to mother earth. Notwith-
this, when the last trace of their
had passed ava the elevating
of Masonry would still survive
n all their strength to guide, protect and
bless mankind. To perpetuate those infla-